Boehner Hires Top Tier Immigration Policy Aide

House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) has hired Rebecca Tallent to work on immigration reform. She is currently the immigration policy director at the Bipartisan Policy Center.

"The Speaker remains hopeful that we can enact step-by-step, common-sense immigration reforms -- the kind of reforms the American people understand and support," said Michael Steel, a spokesman for Boehner. "Becky Tallent, a well-known expert in this field of public policy, is a great addition to our team and that effort."

According to her BPC bio, Tallent has worked as a policy aide on immigration and energy issues to Rep. Jim Kolbe (R-AZ) and Sen. John McCain (R-AZ). She has served as chief of staff for McCain's office and senior policy adviser to his 2008 presidential campaign.

The hire is likely to spark speculation about Boehner's plans with regard to immigration reform, which passed the Democratic-led Senate earlier this year but has stalled in the Republican-led House.